How To Customize Your Calendar On The iPhone and iPad

Apple’s iOS Calendar App has some pretty clever tricks up its sleeves. Even if you use a different calendar service like Google or Microsoft you can link these services to your Calendar to get the most out of your daily planning.

The Calendar app has lots of dedicated customizations that you can use. Here’s how to set them up.

How To Setup Calendar Account

Whether using iCloud, Gmail, or Outlook, you can set it up to sync with the built in Calendar app across your iPhone and iPad. (If you’ve already set your Calendar up skip ahead)

Launch the Settings App on your iPhone or iPad.

Tap Accounts & Passwords.

Tap Add Account

Select an Account Service.

Sign in with your account login settings.

Turn on the Calendars toggle to sync that accounts calendar.

How To Turn Week Numbers On and Off

The Calendar app by default numbers each week of the year. Some, use this as a useful way to quickly see how many weeks have passed, others find this information unnecessary. You can turn this feature on and off.

Launch the Settings App on your iPhone or iPad.

Then Tap Calendar.

Turn Week Numbers toggle off or On.

How To Manage Calendar Syncing

To keep data usage and internal storage to a minimum, your iPhone and iPad only sync back one month. If you need to be able to look back further you can change that. Here’s how.

Launch the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.

Tap Calendar

Tap Sync.

Now Tap the Time Frame you want to sync back to.

How To Set A Reminder To Leave On Time

If you’re someone who typically is late for an appointment or can’t seem to get out the door on time. The ability to receive an alert to remind you what time you should be leave may be invaluable.

Launch the Settings app.

Tap Calendar.

Tap Default Alert Times.

Turn the Time To Leave toggle on.

How To Set Default Alert Times

You can also set an alert time to specify what time you want to receive an alert for an event on you calendar. This won’t override any events you have manually set a notification for. This works well for Birthdays, Timed Events and All Day Events

Launch the Settings app.

Tap Calendar.

Tap Default Alert Times.

Select the Alert you want to set a default time for.

Select the Time you want to receive the alert.

Drag and Drop iOS Calendar Events

Need to change the time or date of an event scheduled on your calendar? You don’t need to hit the edit button and do it manually. Just drag and drop.

Tap a Date in the Calendars Month View. Make sure the Details button (it’s the 3 line button at the top right corner) is deselected.

To move the event tap and hold it, then drag it to a new time.

To change the date of the event drag it toward the left or right of the screen and then drop into the date you would prefer. As you move to the left or right you’ll see the date changing.

View Your Weekly Schedule

Generally the iOS Calendar only allows you see your events one day at a time or a few days when you use list view.

If you wish to see an entire week, just tilt your iPhone sideways in landscape mode.

When you do you’ll get a 5 day view of your Calendar Events. You can then swipe back and forth to view days in the past or future.

Color Code Your Calendars

If you have several Calendars, such as Home, Work, Bills, and so on. Apple automatically color codes those for you

If you’d prefer you can change these colors to something of your choosing.

Launch the Calendar app

Tap the Calendars button at the bottom.

Tap on the (i) to the right of the Calendar.

Pick a new color and you’re set.

Conclusion

I hope this helps you get your calendar set up to your liking. If you have any questions or tips please post them in the comments section.

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